It's the states Challenge Cup season again. The time of the year when grassroots clubs all over Nigeria have gigantic ambitions of showcasing their talents with the aim of seeing them shine and move on to a more professional football life. An opportunity to test thei lads against topflight teams as they aim for honors.

In Edo State, an impressive number of grassroots clubs have registered for the state's FA cup and the draws are scheduled to hold on Friday morning at the palatial Wesley hotel in the center of the state's capital Benin City.

One of the new teams participating on the state league is Alhaji FC located in the Upper Sapoba area of Benin.

The club proprietor Edigwe Iduitua, a popular player himself, is motivated by the idea of encouraging talented young players in his local community to give their talents the right exposure.

He's been solely financing the club by making available scarce resourses to give the young players the needed lift to give their best.

"I live and breathe football. I like to remain in the game and lend my experience into helping and inspiring young players who have the dream of becoming the next big football star.  There are a lot of good players around and all they need is some psychological and financial support to boost their morale," Iduitua says.

The Iduitua family is a thorough football family and they have one of their own Deba Iduitua playing in the Portguese league.

Towards preparing for the FA cup, Alhaji FC have secured the services of a seasoned coach and senior football consultant Tayo Adeleke as Technical Adviser of the club.

Adeleke,who led the Nigerian delegation of Sapele-based Ejele FC to the semi final of the Dana Cup in Denmark for youth teams around the world,has hit the ground running.

He has helped secured a number of top quality friendly games for the new club and after a tough start, Alhaji FC have started to pick up good results, including a very impressive come back from 3 goals diwn to draw 3-3 with Ejele FC at the Sapele township stadium.

"I want to give my best to the young group og hungry players. I beleive in the quality of players of the team and the club chaiman Edigue is a great guy who loves the game. It makes my assignment easy," Adeleke says.

Last week they beat an Oghara selected side 2-1 at the Oghara township stadium in Delta state and earlier this week posted a gallant display to draw 0-0 away against last year's semi finalists Inneh Stars.

The Edo FA Cup draws begins 11:00 a.m. on Friday morning.

The two first division sides of the Nigerian league from Edo state,Bendel Insurance and Dynamite Force are expected to be drawn by and will therefore be exempted from the first round if the competition.

Two grassroots clubs have in recent years won the Edo FA Cup. BJ Foundation emerged winners in 2015 while Inneh Stars won the competition in 2016.